Strider

Basic Information

Anatomy

Striders are an amphibian species with the curious ability to not only survive in lava and extreme heat, but also seemingly require to to be comfortable. They have a blob-shaped body atop two stout legs, a large face with a wide mouth, and white hair-like wisps growing from the sides of the head. Strider skin is tough and fire-resistant; the grey skin on the feet is especially thick and hard. The skin is red at a comfortable temperature, but turns purple when the strider is cold. Striders do not have a neck and the skull is fused to the rest of the body. Their feet are wide to distribute their weight across the lava surface and prevent sinking.

Genetics and Reproduction

Despite their amphibian physiology, striders give live birth. Gestation lasts about four months, producing a small litter of one to three offspring. Striders give birth very quickly (60-90 minutes) for some reason.

Growth Rate & Stages

Baby striders are able to touch lava without getting hurt from birth, but prefer to ride on their parents' backs until they are grown.

Ecology and Habitats

Striders are a Nether-native species and thrive in environments that are as close to those conditions as possible. Notably, they not only are unharmed by lava, but actually require contact with it to be comfortable at all. If they are forced out of lava, striders turn purple and shiver (although some researchers believe the striders exaggerate how cold they are to drum up sympathy and guilt from onlookers.)

Dietary Needs and Habits

Striders are a wholly herbivorous species and eat mostly fungi. Their favourite treat is warped fungus, which motivates them when being ridden and entices them to breed. They will also graze on nylium and various foliage from the crimson and warped forests, but prefer not to eat plants from the Overworld.

Additional Information

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Their status as the only passive animal in the Nether has proved attractive to humans and piglins looking to make use of the creature. Piglins were the first to tame these animals, using them as pack animals, transportation over lava, and a source of string. Humans followed suit, once expeditions to the Nether were made.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

In lava lakes and seas across the Nether.

Lifespan

10 yrs

Average Height

1.7 m

Average Weight

20 kg

Average Length

1.1 m

Geographic Distribution

• The Nether